The Spinny Index: Turkey
Spinny's verdict: unscientific, but built on a lot of travel. 5 wheels = maximum.
Istanbul: domes, bazaars and a ferry ride between continents
Istanbul sits on both sides of the Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe and Asia. One of the best ways to see it is from a public ferry.
In the old city, Hagia Sophia, completed in 537, has been a church, a mosque, a museum and, since 2020, a mosque again. Nearby, the Blue Mosque takes its name from the blue İznik tiles and painted decoration inside.
Topkapı Palace was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the Grand Bazaar is a maze of covered streets full of carpets, lanterns and gold.
Best for: history, city breaks, food · Spinny tip: Take a public ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side. It's the most scenic way to switch continents.
Turks are obsessed with…
The Turquoise Coast: hidden coves, sunken ruins and the Lycian Way
On the Turquoise Coast, pine-covered mountains drop straight into deep blue water.
Around Kaş, boat trips glide over the partly sunken ruins at Kekova, where you can see old staircases under the surface.
The Lycian Way is a long-distance hiking trail from near Fethiye to near Antalya, passing tombs cut into the cliff walls.
In Antalya, the old quarter of Kaleiçi has Ottoman-era houses and Hadrian's Gate, built by the Romans.
Best for: beaches, hiking, boat trips · Spinny tip: Hike the Lycian Way in spring or autumn. Summer heat makes it hard work.
Spinny's food dare
Four words that open doors
| Hello | Merhaba | MER-ha-ba |
| Thank you | Teşekkürler | te-shek-kür-LER |
| Cheers! | Şerefe! | she-re-FE |
| Goodbye | Hoşça kal | HOSH-tsha kal |
Capitals = stressed syllable. ə = a short, neutral vowel.
Cappadocia: fairy chimneys, cave churches and balloons at dawn
In central Anatolia, wind and water have worn soft volcanic rock into cones and pillars known as fairy chimneys.
People carved homes, churches and whole underground cities, like Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, into the rock. At the Göreme Open-Air Museum, rock-cut churches are decorated with frescoes.
At sunrise, hot-air balloons drift over the valleys. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best for: adventure, photography, romance · Spinny tip: Stay in a cave hotel with a roof terrace and set your alarm early. The balloons go up at sunrise.
Turkey in 60 seconds
- 330 Emperor Constantine makes Byzantium his “new Rome”, Constantinople.
- 1453 Sultan Mehmed II conquers Constantinople.
- 1923 Atatürk proclaims the Republic of Turkey, with Ankara as its capital.
- 1928 A Latin-based alphabet replaces the Arabic script.
- Today A republic spanning Europe and Asia, with Ankara as capital and Istanbul as its largest city.
Ephesus and Pamukkale: a Roman port city and a cotton castle
Near the Aegean, Ephesus was a great Roman port city. Walk its old processional way to the facade of the Library of Celsus.
Inland, Pamukkale means “cotton castle”. Hot springs full of calcite have built white travertine terraces down the hillside.
Above them lie the ruins of Hierapolis, and in the Antique Pool you swim among sunken marble columns.
Best for: history, road trips, spa days · Spinny tip: The travertine terraces are protected, so keep to the areas open to visitors.
Turkey: three easy mistakes
Turkey by numbers
Myth vs truth
💶 What it costs
Türkiye is cheap for visitors paying in euros, pounds or dollars, but high inflation means local prices change often. Istanbul and the resort coast cost more than Anatolia, and major museums charge foreign visitors much more than locals.
🛂 Visa & entry (tourist stays)
- EU/EEA citizens: Most EU citizens need no visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but rules vary by nationality – Cypriot citizens need a visa. Some nationalities can enter with a national ID card; otherwise your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the day you arrive.
- US citizens: No visa needed for stays up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
- UK citizens: No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 150 days after the day you arrive.
Other nationalities, longer stays or work: check the official source.
General guidance only, not legal advice. This information is collected automatically and may be incomplete or out of date. SpinYourDestination takes no responsibility for your entry to any country – always check the official source or the embassy before you travel.
